Social advice in 2022

Greater need for advice in times of crisis

Photo: Felix Noak / stW BERLIN
Picture shows students sitting with a baby in a consultation.

In the course of 2022, the social counseling of the studierendenWERK BERLIN a change: Instead of primarily providing emergency aid during the pandemic, the offer in 2022 developed back to increased advice, primarily in the area of ​​student financing. An increase in individual consultations was recorded. The number of short consultations fell from 2.117 (2021) to 1.936 (2022), while the number of detailed consultations increased significantly from 1.607 (2021) to 3.125 (2022).

The main reason for the increased need for advice was the rising rents in Berlin, driven by inflation as a result of the energy crisis. From September onwards, the need for advice could not be met at times, which led to waiting times of up to three weeks.

 

Photo: Felix Noak / stW BERLIN
The picture shows a workshop situation in which three students have a lively discussion.

Writing Center

The number of individual writing consultations fell in 2022 in favor of group consultations. These group consultations were mainly carried out online. A total of 5.524 students took part in the Writing Center's workshops in 2022 (2021: 3.667).

KfW student loan

KfW's expectation that all sales partners should digitize the application at their own expense - while at the same time reducing the flat rate for administration costs, was met by studierendenWERK BERLIN not fulfilled. Since the processing numbers had fallen sharply in previous years, the collaboration was discontinued on September 1, 2022.

 

Photo: Felix Noak / stW BERLIN
Picture shows an advisor listening to a student

Support for students from Ukraine

In February 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine. Due to the economic consequences for students in Berlin, demand for the regular social counseling emergency fund increased from the first quarter of the reporting year. With special funds from the State of Berlin, a special fund was set up for students enrolled in Berlin affected by the Ukraine war. 67 students each received 2022 euros from this fund in 1.000. In October 2022, a coordination office was launched to offer Ukrainian students advice on various topics. The focus here was on questions about residence status, university entrance, financing studies and finding accommodation for Ukrainian students interested in studying in Berlin.

Subsidy for starting or completing your studies 

The grant program was resumed from April 19, 2022: 166 students received 1.000 euros each, including 87 international students. At 971 applications, the number of applications was significantly higher than before the pandemic, indicating a deteriorating financial situation for students.

The image shows a graphic showing the shares of the various forms of advice in the total volume. 1987 consultations took place in writing, 1187 consultations took place by telephone, 443 consultations took place in person and 444 consultations took place via video.
Graphic shows the distribution of topics in social counseling. 2986 consultations were given on the topic of financing studies, 666 consultations were given on the topic of studying with children and 409 consultations were given on other topics.

By far the most common form of advice was written. The most discussed topic in 2022 was the topic of student financing.

Graphic shows the development of the subsidies paid out. While almost 2021 million euros in grants were paid out in 2, in 2022 it was only 165.000 euros.
Further aid has also fallen sharply: in 2022, only 29 applications for emergency funds and DKSV were approved.

The number of approved aid applications fell massively in 2022.

67 students from Ukraine each received 2022 euros in support in 1000.

67 students from Ukraine each received 1.000 euros in support from the special fund.